The twin suns Kaarn and Kuurn were already setting into the red hills of Sraac when Duurishnok dismounted his Strider, hastily tying the 6-legged beast to a weathered hitching post outside the observatory’s main entrance. The temperature was dropping and the animal was tired and in need of water, but he would have to tend to it later.
“You are late” said Aashnoki in a calm voice, as Duurishnok half strode, half stumbled into the Reading Room. “Again.”
“I’m sorry Your Grace. The sand creatures of Vraal were hunting this eve, I had to take evasive action crossing the Null Region and lost some time.” Duurishnok’s breathing was already laboured, but he added a few extra huffs for effect. He slung his blue Draalskin bag off his shoulder and settled into his seat at the Holy Control Panel.
“I see.” said the older man, gazing - without seeing, for he was stone blind - out the observatory’s massive main window into the deep red of the darkening sky. The crescent shape of the giant moon Aamroth was just beginning to show, while across the dark part of its surface the orange pinpoints of hundreds of active volcanoes could be seen. Beautiful but deadly fireflies in the night sky, coming closer each day. The end, said the High Priests of Naang, was no more than 6 sun cycles away now.
Duurishnok could feel the disapproving glare of his fellow Readers as he waited for his monitor to warm up. It was cold in the observatory. It was cold everywhere now, since the planet’s normal weather systems had been ruined by the immense gravitational pull of Aamroth - no longer in its proper orbit, his home world was in the end stages of a fatal dance with its single moon. They were now too far from the life-giving heat and light of Kaarn and Kuurn. Even the sand creatures of Vraal would soon be dead, but at least they would be spared the terror of the day the moon crashed into their world.
The monitor blinked to life. Duurishnok pulled his visor down and focused on the screen.
He could feel the presence of Aashnoki behind him as he tapped out the letters of the Sacred URL and hit the large round “Enter” button with 3 of his 7 fingers.
Duurishnok had no idea what “aceshockeyclub.blogspot.ca” signified, nor the meaning of the messages being transmitted to them across the light years of spacetime. The blind monks however seemed to think them of great importance and would pay many dozens of triins to have Readers like Duurishnok access the messages from the distant planet Earth. That planet must surely be dead by now, thought Duurishnok, so long ago were the messages transmitted. Soon we will be joining them.
“Please confirm the previous results” said Aashnoki “We have determined that there is a high probability of error in the last transmission, possibly due to timeline contamination.”
“Wyse Guys eight....” Duurishnok squinted at the tiny screen.
“Yes? And?” There was a slight quiver in the old monk’s voice.
“Aces... zero. Shall I read the full entry, your grace?”
“No, that won’t be necessary. Thank you. Is there another entry after that?”
Duurishnok executed an intricate series of key presses on his 400-character keypad and the screen flickered and refreshed itself. “Yes, your grace. We have another entry. Praise Braam!”
“Praise Braam!” The words echoed around the reading room as the other Readers repeated the phrase and left their stations to crowd around Duurishnok and his screen.
“Please read the entry now.” The cold room fell silent but for the sound of the wind howling outside.
“Warriors... five.” The sound of a dozen men holding their breath.
“Aces... nine.” The sound of a dozen men exhaling at once. “Praise Braam!!” someone shouted, and the cry was taken up immediately by the others.
“Silence!” Aashnoki’s command was enough to halt the celebration. “Please, read out the names of the heroes.”
Duurishnok leaned into his screen and carefully checked its contents before speaking.
“Raad... 2 goals. Maark... 3 goals. Raalph... 3 goals.”
“Are you sure?” asked the blind monk “This is highly unusual. We have not heard this name in a great while.”
“Yes, your grace. There can be no mistake - Raalph, 3 goals.”
“Go on then, there should be one more.”
“Djoee Two-Names had one goal. Also, the one called Aaabry was again in the position of Keeper. A brave performance.”
“Thank you Reader Duurishnok. You have performed well. An extra 20 triins in your pay packet this week. I pray to Braam that we continue to receive such excellent news from the planet Earth. Praise Braam.”
“Praise Braam” mumbled the Readers, as the fires of Aamroth glowed in the night sky overhead.
